Toronto Maple Leafs - Recent Posts

The Leafs have found a place to offload pending UFA Olli Jokinen, sending him to St. Louis for a conditional sixth round draft choice.
The pick they grab here essentially factors back into the original Mike Santorelli and Cody Franson deal, making the return Brendan Leipsic, a 1st round pick and a sixth round draft pick fetched in this trade. Any asset gained here at all is gravy.
https://twitter.com/Real_ESPNLeBrun/status/572480543847260160
Joakim Lindstrom is a 31-year-old depth center with 6 points in 34 games. He's an expiring contract takeback to make the dollars line up.
So ends the storied Olli Jokinen era in Toronto.
Jokinen clearly didn't want to...

The only real rumour buzzing as we approach Noon Eastern is rumblings of Dion Phaneuf to the Red Wings (nothing close).
https://twitter.com/GMillerTSN/status/572415830333509632
https://twitter.com/GMillerTSN/status/572429825799036929
It would be somewhat surprising if the Leafs can find best-possible value for Phaneuf, inked for 6 more years at $7 million a season, at the deadline and not in the offseason, when the summer cap might expand the market to include some more suitors.
The one consideration is that Braydon Coburn and Keith Yandle trades may have created an arms race in the East that Leafs management is looking to capitalize on. First round picks were moved in both of...

Former Marlies head coach Dallas Eakins joined Bob Mackowycz on TSN Radio, touching on the Leafs rebuild, the market's treatment of Phaneuf, and the futures of Rielly, Gardiner and Kadri.
Have we lost sight of how good Phaneuf could be?
I think it happens. It’s an easy thing to happen. When you get into a negative environment and there’s lots of losses, it’s very easy to pile on individuals. I’ve really kept an eye on Toronto since I've been gone. It’s an organization close to my heart because I was here for so long. I think a lot of the criticism of Dion and some of the...

The heat has been turned up on this deadline. The Rangers have thrown down the gauntlet in the East with a big add in Keith Yandle, while Tampa responded late last night with a blueline addition of their own in Braydon Coburn, both paying handsomely for their purchases. Trades in the last 24 hours:
Tampa Bay trades Radko Gudas, 1st and 3rd round picks to the Philadelphia Flyers for Braydon Coburn.
Boston acquires Brett Connolly for two 2nd round picks.
Dallas Stars trade Erik Cole and a 3rd round pick to the Detroit Red Wings for Mattias Backman, Mattas Janmark, and a 2nd round pick.
New...

Roman Polak recently gave an interview to Czech paper iDnes on the state of the Leafs. Translation below courtesy of MLHS member 'drummond.'
Pressure in Toronto?
Nah, in St. Louis, it was another story, says Polak.
Roman Polak is a tough defenseman, who is not afraid to play hardball. Recently he showed similar courage with his statement criticizing the performance of the team. To give you a better perspective, this is not something which would be common in the capital of hockey. "We needed to start calling things what they actually are," he said in an interview to iDNES.cz.
The interview took place...

Toronto had a tough turn around, with the second game of a back-to-back coming against Washington. They had a terrible start, giving up a goal in the first minute of the game to fall behind.
They actually had a solid period after that, as they were the better team in the second half of the frame, and ended up even with the Capitals in chances. Since Washington generated three of those chances on one great shift, most of the period was dominated by the Leafs. The second period was similar, as Toronto had a solid period in chances, and other...

The Leafs play one more game before the final deadline flurry.
We'll wait and see if anyone is scratched tonight, but of those remaining who can be classified as trade bait there really isn't a surething to be moved by tomorrow.
The Capitals should be the far hungrier team after a 3-0 loss to the lowly Hurricanes on Friday; they're now losers of three straight. They're also rested while the Leafs had to fly out after their loss to the Habs last night. The Leafs have lost 9 of their last 10 at the Verizon Centre.
Ovechkin is looking to become the first player to...

The Leafs have decided to take a flyer on 24-year-old defenceman Tim Erixon, claiming him off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks.
Erixon's a former 2009 first round pick of the Calgary Flames who hasn't found a stable spot in the League yet. He is an RFA at season's end.
Tim Erixon Scouting Report
A strong, aggressive rearguard .. all-around type .. moves well in all directions, propelled by a long, powerful stride.. handles pressure well ... initiates physical contact and knows how to apply his large, sturdy frame .. proactive rushing the puck, relying on his skating and reach advantage .. not a...